UPCOMING RELEASE
The Intelligent Fiduciary
Best practices for navigating ERISA’s fiduciary responsibilities
Every decision you make carries legal weight. This authoritative guide gives pension plan fiduciaries the clarity, frameworks, and confidence to fulfill their duties — and defend every choice they make.
THE STAKES
Fiduciary duty is not a formality.
It is a legal obligation.
Pension plan fiduciaries face an increasingly complex web of ERISA requirements, DOL regulations, and evolving litigation risk. Good intentions are not a defense. Documented, deliberate, defensible decisions are.
This book bridges the gap between professional intent and legally sound practice — written for the advisors and sponsors who are ultimately responsible.
Day 1
your obligations begin the moment you accept the role
INSIDE THE BOOK
Key learning outcomes
THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN FOR
Responsible Professionals
If you oversee a pension plan — whether you advise on it, manage it, or sit on the committee — this is the guide your role demands.
Retirement plan consultants and advisors serving institutional clients
HR directors and benefits managers overseeing 401(k) and pension plans
Investment committee members at corporations, nonprofits, and public entities
Independent RIAs with retirement plan clients seeking fiduciary clarity
ERISA attorneys and plan administrators seeking a practical reference
Newly appointed trustees and plan sponsors accepting fiduciary roles
PRAISE FOR THE INTELLIGENT FIDUCIARY
What colleagues are saying
“Anyone with fiduciary oversight duties will be better prepared after reading this book.”
“A thoughtful guide that transforms complex fiduciary concepts into actionable principles. Essential reading for professionals who take stewardship seriously.”
“The Intelligent Fiduciary provides a clear and practical framework for understanding the responsibilities that come with serving as a fiduciary. A valuable resource for anyone committed to making informed decisions.”
About the Author
Carol Buckmann
Employee Benefits & ERISA Attorney
Cohen & Buckmann, P.C. Carol Buckmann is a co-founding partner of Cohen & Buckmann P.C. and one of the country’s most respected voices in ERISA and fiduciary law. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she has advised employers, fiduciaries, and industry leaders on some of the most complex issues in employee benefits, investment fund formation, pension compliance, and plan governance.
A frequent writer and speaker, member of Law360’s editorial advisory board for employee benefits, and a top attorney recognized by Chambers, Best Lawyers, and the National Law Journal, Carol brings both authority and clarity to this book. In The Intelligent Fiduciary, she offers readers the benefit of a trusted guide who has spent a lifetime helping others make sound decisions in a demanding field.
The Intelligent Fiduciary
Join us as we celebrate the release of The Intelligent Fiduciary, an essential new guide for retirement plan advisors, fiduciaries, attorneys, and plan sponsors. Spend an evening with industry colleagues as we commemorate this milestone and hear from the author.